Conditions Acupuncture Treats

Acupuncture has demonstrated clinical value for a broad range of musculoskeletal and pain-related conditions, including:

• Chronic low back pain — One of the most well-studied applications, with consistent evidence for meaningful pain reduction.
• Neck pain and cervicogenic headaches — Needle therapy targeting the upper cervical musculature can reduce both headache frequency and cervical muscle tension.
• Shoulder pain and rotator cuff conditions — Reduces local inflammation and muscle guarding that limits shoulder mobility.
• Joint pain from arthritis — Helps modulate pain signaling and reduce inflammatory cytokines in affected joints.
• Muscle tension and trigger points — "Dry needling" technique is highly effective for releasing myofascial trigger points in the neck, upper back, and hips.
• Hip and knee pain — Useful as a complement to joint rehabilitation for inflammatory and degenerative presentations.

What to Expect at Your First Acupuncture Session

Many patients who have never received acupuncture are surprised by how comfortable the experience is. The needles used are hair-thin. Insertion is typically felt as a mild pressure, tingling, or dull ache at the needle site, which usually fades within seconds.

During your session: Dr. Sikorsky will review your condition and determine which points are appropriate. You will lie comfortably on the treatment table. Needles are inserted and retained for approximately 20–30 minutes. Most patients feel a sense of relaxation, and some experience immediate relief in the treated area.

After the session, you may notice mild soreness at needle sites for 24–48 hours — similar to post-massage soreness. This is normal.

How Acupuncture Integrates With Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic adjustments address joint mechanics. Acupuncture addresses the soft-tissue and neurological environment around those joints. Used together, they create a more complete treatment effect — the adjustment restores mobility while acupuncture reduces the muscle tension and inflammation that would otherwise cause the joint to return to dysfunction.

For patients with chronic pain, the combination of spinal manipulation and acupuncture has been shown to produce better outcomes than either therapy alone.

Visit Frequency and Safety

Acupuncture is very safe when performed by a trained provider using sterile, single-use needles. Side effects are minimal and typically limited to mild local soreness.

Visit frequency depends on the condition being treated. Acute conditions may benefit from 2 sessions per week initially; chronic conditions typically begin at 1–2 sessions per week and taper as improvement is established. Most patients see meaningful improvement within 6–10 sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions